Swaraj welcomes Indian youth who returned from Pak

Hamid Nehal Ansari, who recently returned to India after spending six years in jails in Pakistan, called on External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Hamid's mother Fauzia Ansari and father Nihal Ansari accompanied him during the meeting with External Affairs Minister. Swaraj welcomed back Hamid, while his mother thanked the External Affairs Minister for helping bring her son back from Pakistan.

“Mera Bharat Mahaan, meri Madam Mahaan, Sab Madam Ne hi Kiya Hai (My India is Great, My Madam is Great. Madam has done everything (to bring Hamid back to India),” Fauzia said, as she hugged Swaraj.

Ansari was arrested in Pakistan in 2012 and he was charged for illegally entering into that country from Afghanistan. He purportedly entered the neighbouring country to meet a woman he had got acquainted with on social media. He was attacked by inmates of the Peshawar Central Prison in Pakistan and was injured at least thrice.

New Delhi has been mounting pressure on Islamabad for release of Ansari and his repatriation from Pakistan to India. India had issued 96 note verbales to Pakistan seeking consular access to Ansari and clarity on the charges against him. Pakistan, however, had not provided India a satisfactory response. Ahead of the end of his court-mandated prison sentence, India had upped the ante at multiple levels in the preceding weeks, seeking to ensure his release and quick repatriation to India.

Pakistan on Tuesday released and repatriated Ansari to India.

“Welcome home, Son!” Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the MEA, posted on Twitter. He also posted a video of Swaraj affectionately patting Hamid and embracing his mother.